Everything in the universe circles around the earth! If you were early man, this wasn't just a guess, it was a fact that could be proven by observing the sun, moon and stars leaving and returning each day in approximately the same location they were in the day before. But, facts change as we gain access to more information and more methods of observation.

Gerry - I would like to publicly thank Lindsey Collins and Tom Tannehill of the City of Mason for finally addressing my concerns about the Millard/Robin street neighborhood. I have lived on Millard St. for eight years and have made complaints in writing about conditions in the neighborhood. I have also spoken to the mayor on at least two occasions (on the square) about people living in R.V.s.

The Canadian invasion begins once more this week! Terri Reardon's mom, Annie Chappell, arrives back in Texas on Wednesday for an extended visit. Though this has become an annual event (or even semiannual), it's always fun to catch up with her and spend time making new memories. Thanks to Annie, I know that Canadian cigarette packages are not subtle in reminding smokers that they are using a dangerous product.

Gamel. Kothmann. Cavness. Stockbridge. Schulze. Durst. Leifeste. Jordan.... Mason surnames. There are so many more.... Brandenberger, Zesch, Geistweidt, Lehmberg, Schmidt, Toeppich and Reardon. Family names that, for anyone who has lived in the county for even a short time, are all too familiar. In a county the size of Mason, it is almost impossible to live a day to day life, and not run into a Loeffler, a McMillan, a Brown, a Brannies or a Martinez.

Editor: Justice. So they caught the guy. After gun fights and bomb-fights on the streets of a major American City...after that City was on “Lock Down”...which amounts, essentially, to undeclared Martial Law....the Other Bomber is found bleeding in somebody’s back yard. Now what? Some are calling for him to be sent to Guantanamo...saying that he’s “too dangerous” to be afforded the Rights of an American Citizen(which he is).

Editor: Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, I just had to say that.. On Friday April 19th the Mason Ministerial Alliance Food Bank received 2 freezers and 2 refrigerators. Thanks to the donation given to us from the Community Thrift Store and a little help from Lowes Home improvement store. We are making many changes to the food bank in many positive ways.

Letter to the Editor The story of the Kingdom of Mason continues…. While the citizens enjoy a safe environment due to continued efforts of the underfunded Sheriff and his small band of merry men (and women), greater taxes are brought in to the King’s counting house. However, those are distributed to see the Royal Knights of the Air Current can continue to hang banners proclaiming the next jousting match or baking event and cut down trees to make sure the banners can be seen.

Editor: The Committee of Precious Payton Benefit would like to express much gratitude for all the outpouring love and support that was given for the fundraiser that was held March 29th in Llano. Words cannot express enough thanks to each one of you that had any part in supporting this benefit for the courageous fight this special little one is enduring.

Editor: Oh the hypocrisy. After voting against federal aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Senators Cruz and Cornyn along with Representative Flores are leading the charge for federal aid for the West victims. Why does Texas keep sending such hypocrites to Congress? The ones we should really send to Congress are the first responders to such tragedies.

CSCOPE earns an “F”. Test results are in, a survey of the 2011-2012 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness/End-of-Course (STAAR/EOC) scores from over 950 Texas Independent School Districts show that CSCOPE students have 36% HIGHER UNSATISFACTORY RATINGS than do Non-CSCOPE students. CSCOPE is sold through the Texas Education Agency’s Service Centers as a “GUARANTEED & VIABLE CURRICULUM”.

Letter to the editor For a number of years, the EPA and Army Corp of Engineers have been trying to re-write the verbiage in the original Clean Water Act passed in the early 1970’s along with many other environmental pieces of legislation. In the original Act, the word Navigable Waters was listed in the act as those under the authority of the two mentioned. About 8 years ago, the EPA and the Corp took it upon themselves to change the verbiage to All Waters and began writing regulations aroun ...

Boston. West. China. During the last week, we have seen evil, we have seen heroism and we have seen the human capacity for endurance. It is so easy in our daily lives to forget that, in this connected world, we are all just a few degrees away from everyone else in our big, beautiful world.

I've got my new Blackberry Z10 (and even had time to get the replacement for the first handset when it had problems). Except for the problems that I had with the first phone restarting itself for no discernible reason, I'm really enjoying my new unit and have found it quite capable of living up to the early marketing hype. Shortly after receiving my new smartphone, I found myself sitting at a friend's kitchen counter having a conversation with him.

Dear Editor: I’d like to thank the townspeople of Mason for their hospitality and hosting another fantastic Topaz Day. I spent a 1/2 day out on one of the ranches and (which I’m keeping secret because I) was one of the lucky ones who found a large (2" tall) smokey quartz point.

Every week, like our other columnists, I stare at a blank screen and wait for inspiration to occur. Some weeks, there are thoughts fighting to escape and the problem becomes how to organize them into coherent reading. Other weeks, that blank screen keeps staring back at me, just waiting for words to fill it up to completion.